Harnessing Digital Services to Improve Driver Experience at BMW

The world is demanding more from cars. No longer merely a way to get around, modern vehicles have become authentic pieces of technological art—equipped with numerous sensors and capabilities that are gradually transforming the very meaning of the word ‘vehicle’. BMW wanted to get ahead of this changing landscape and continue to delight their customers whether inside or outside the car—but how? Jorge Coca faced this challenge when he joined the team in January 2016. He and his peers found the answer in BMW Connected, an application that seamlessly links customers’ cars with their digital lives—via smartphone (iOS & Android), smartwatch, voice assistant, and more—to help them stay on time, in touch, and in control. BMW Connected learns the customer’s preferences over time to provide a more personal, convenient, and pleasurable user experience. Join Jorge as he describes how BMW uses mobile technologies, smart devices, machine learning, and IoT to create these intelligent apps for both the BMW and MINI brands.

A Spanish software engineer, Jorge Coca moved to Chicago in the summer of 2011 and developed Android applications for companies like Groupon and Orbitz. In January 2016 Jorge joined the BMW Technology Corporation as a senior Android engineer. At BMW, he is part of the team that works on the Android apps for the Connected platform for BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. Jorge is engaged in bringing direct access from your device to your vehicle, while providing the unique experience that has always been a hallmark of these brands. In the Android Chicago community, Jorge frequently speaks on design patterns, IoT devices, and connected vehicles.